CJLO's Heavy Montreal 2019 Preview

Heavy Montreal is on the horizon and the fine folks at CJLO will be covering it for yet another year. In addition to doing a live broadcast from the grounds, we thought we'd clue you in to what you should check out while you're out there under the baking hot sun dressed in all black. So here's what some of our DJs are excited for!

Build up those neck muscles and shake the dust off your battle vest, because Heavy Montreal returns this year with a mix of nostalgia and new flavours. Feel the fuzz of heavy distortion provided by Clutch, Corrosion of Conformity, Fu Manchu and Yob. There will also be a strong hardcore presence with performances by Terror, Stick To Your Guns, Knocked Loose, Harm’s Way and Counterparts. If you like your music a bit more extreme, look no further than death metal acts like Demolition Hammer and Dying Fetus, plus the Summer Slaughter Tour will be bringing along Cattle Decapitation, Carnifex and Rivers of Nihil. Representing Montreal are locals Mountain Dust, The Great Sabatini, Dopethrone, and breakout successes like Kataklysm and Despised Icon. Finally get some chuckles in by seeing Steel Panther, Nekrogoblikon and Star Wars metal tribute Galactic Empire. Also if you want to be super annoying, be sure to sing along to Evanescence’s “Bring Me To Life,” or scream “SLAYER!!” at the top of your lungs every 10 minutes.

I'm looking forward to finally experiencing Heavy MTL. I've heard a lot about the festival, and despite being a Montreal native, I have never attended. Now that I've spent a few years falling further and further down the metal rabbit hole, I'm very excited to simply go see the bands and enjoy the festival atmosphere. Of course, I do have my favorites: I'm looking forward to seeing Ghost, as their work has inspired me in so many ways (and I'm sinfully in love with their "papacy gone bad" aesthetic). I'm also really looking forward to seeing Slayer; they were one of the first bands I got into when I was discovering heavy metal, and they were also the first band patch I sewed onto my battle vest. I have seen both bands live before, but I'd jump at any chance to see them again.

This particular Heavy lineup looks promising and diverse. From the enormous guitar chugging of metalcore acts from the likes of All that Remains and Beartooth, to the stage theatrics and crowd reactions incited by Steel Panther, 2019 is surely not a year to miss the fest. Historical cult bands also seem to be making appearances, of which ‘90s fan favourites Demolition Hammer and metalcore influencers Atreyu come to mind. Of course, it will be great to join in ritual as fans of extreme music converge for Slayer’s final show in Montreal as a festival grande-finale. Anthrax, YOB, Cattle Decapitation, Municipal Waste, Quiet Riot, and Dopethrone are also heavily looked forward to, especially when looking at their diverse sounds, from psych-influenced stoner tunes to maniacal death/grind.

I'm looking forward to see how a huge festival like this happens. I have never been before, so this would be my first time going! I'm looking forward to see some legendary bands like Slayer, Anthrax, and Ghost, as well as some favorites within my genre of choice, metalcore, like Beartooth, Killswitch Engage, Skillet and All that Remains. I'm also looking forward to the emotions linked to Slayer's performance, the last ever in Québec. It could be a wild ride.

With the downsizing of Montebello Rockfest, Heavy Montreal has become the must-go event of the summer for the rock and metal enthusiasts in Quebec (since anything else is smaller in size or requires a trip across the border). And what can be said about this year's lineup? The two massive headliners, the Bay-area and Big Four thrash legends Slayer and the bombastic, theatrical and ever-so-dark Ghost are reasons enough to go for the metal purists and whoever wants to see a great stage show. Not to mention this might be the last chance to see Slayer in Montreal ever... If that's not enough, you've got Anthrax, Metal Church and Demolition Hammer for your trve thrasher needs. And if you need more bombast, why not get intimate with Devin Townsend? A solo acoustic set from Canada's metal madman is sure spice things up in your moshful days. Or why not some of the most classic power metal from Gamma Ray? Heck, go ahead and be a memer and anxiously sing along to the two Evanescence songs everyone knows. AND WE'RE NOT DONE YET... because maybe you just wanna smoke a joint and dance to some stoner metal. Well Heavy's got it all with Clutch, Fu Manchu and MTL's own Dopethrone. All I can say is that HEAVY MONTREAL this year is STACKED.

As always, Heavy Montreal's lineup is stacked with something for everyone, and this year is a grab bag of delights for me. Some of my favorites are coming to town, and I'm especially looking forward to Ghost, Anthrax, Clutch, Watain, Fu Manchu and Corrosion of Conformity. The 80s rocker in me will bang my head to some Quiet Riot, and while I've been lucky to see Slayer many times before, I'll be there to say goodbye at their last ever Quebec date. Hatebreed, Killswitch Engage and Terror will be there to satisfy your tough guy cravings, and I'm also pretty psyched for the smaller Canadian and local acts, including Cancer Bats, Dopethrone, The Great Sabatini and Mountain Dust. Of course, if you can't find me, try the Heavy Mania wrestling ring, where I make sure to catch some of the best local action. Oh, and as if all this wasn't enough, Slash is gonna be there. Yeah, I think we're going to have fun, don't you?

Heavy Montreal has quickly become a touchstone in metal in North America, and this year is no exception. For me, Heavy has been less about headliners and more about the undercard. Don't get me wrong, Ghost will be amazing, and Slayer will be... Slayer, but I'm more interested in some of those smaller names on the flyer. For instance, the stoner punches thrown by Fu Manchu, Corrosion of Conformity, the fine locals in Mountain Dust. Also the metal and hardcore from the likes of Knocked Loose, Cancer Bats, Killswitch Engage, and even Beartooth will most likely keep the party going through the day. Top picks for me though go to finally getting to see the black metal of Watain, Fever 333 doing their best Rage Against the Machine impression, 3Teeth having some industrial represented, and finally seeing the pure rock fury of Clutch.

Heavy Montreal runs from July 27th to 28th at Parc Jean Drapeau. Make sure to stay tuned to CJLO 1690AM both (both on air and our online magazine) for more coverage!